Hunting With a Crossbow Techniques and Methods

 

With strict gun controls here in the UK, arming ourselves and equipping ourselves for defence as part of our emergency planning and disaster preparedness is very difficult.

I have often wondered about crossbows which I have seen offered for sale.

The crossbow turned the tide in several conflicts during the late medieval period because practically anyone could use one – whether it was hunting with a crossbow or fighting with a crossbow – this weapon made its mark.

Long bowmen were highly skilled thus highly valued warriors. To become a master at the longbow took years of training and dedication. Therefore, only a select few could be counted on to use the weapon effectively.

This reduced the overall effectiveness of the army until a weapon came along that even the untrained archer could master. The crossbow soon became a popular weapon with armies and hunters alike because of its ease of use and power.

Today modern hunters and others still use the crossbow for various reasons and anyone considering a weapon for hunting while in a wilderness environment should seriously consider a crossbow.

A crossbow is silent and is ideal for covert operations and on hunting trips. Flying bolts will not scare the game off like loud gunfire. If you find yourself in a survival situation, you may not want to reveal your location to others. Using a crossbow for hunting is ideal in these circumstances.

To find out more about crossbows, there is a really interesting article which I found: http://www.wildernesssurvivalskills.org/hunting-with-a-crossbow-techniques-and-methods

It’s well worth a read.

Now, I must say that I am not sure where we stand in the eyes of the law here in the UK about possessing what might be seen as an “offensive weapon” – I would love to hear from someone who can advise on this.

In the meantime – stay safe, stay health and be prepared!

 

 

Follow John on Twitter at @preppingUK - and listen out for Tom Linden's UK Prepper Show on UK Health Radio at the weekend! John’s health and wellness blog can be found at www.health-kicks.co.uk

 

Prepping UK is kindly sponsored by Hampshire Snow Clearance (www.hampshiresnowclearance) – helping businesses in the Basingstoke, Fleet and Hook areas of Hampshire, UK maintain safety and business continuity during adverse weather conditions. Services include preventative gritting of car parks and footpaths in icy conditions and heavy duty snow clearance of commercial premises.

I.C.E Medical Alert System

The I.C.E (In Case of an Emergency) Medical Alert System is designed to help alert the 1st person to a situation and the Emergency Services of your vital information including medical conditions and where your medicines are located.

The range also boasts practical, highly visible medicine pouches and a rucksack.

The term I.C.E (In case of an emergency) was originally a campaign started by a paramedic to save an I.C.E contact in your phone. With technology developing most phones now have a phone lock thus making them unable to access those details.

Designed by a mother of a child with anaphylactic allergies, the I.C.E range has been designed from a clear need for practical products that helps make living with a medical condition easier and can help save a life.

 

For UK preppers, if you or a family member have medical conditions then this could be an essential part of your disaster preparedness as well as being prepared for everyday emergencies.

Health Triangle Magazine (www.HealthTriangleMagazine.com) are offering a lucky winner the opportunity to own one of these invaluable kits. To enter, simply visit the magazine and get your free copy.

For more information on this exciting new product, visit www.icemedicalalert.co.uk

 

 

 

Follow John on Twitter at @preppingUK - and listen out for Tom Linden's UK Prepper Show on UK Health Radio at the weekend! John’s health and wellness blog can be found at www.health-kicks.co.uk

 

PreppingUK is kindly sponsored by Hampshire Snow Clearance (www.hampshiresnowclearance) – helping businesses in the Basingstoke, Fleet and Hook areas of Hampshire, UK maintain safety and business continuity during adverse weather conditions. Services include preventative gritting of car parks and footpaths in icy conditions and heavy duty snow clearance of commercial premises.

 

 

Public Health England heatwave plan 2014

John Hicks writes that UK preppers might like to know that the “Heatwave Plan for England” has been released for operation by Public Health England.

Its objective is to protect the population from heat-related harm to health, by raising awareness of the negative health effects of severe heat and enabling services and the public to prepare and respond appropriately.

It is an important component of long term and emergency planning – and our own disaster preparedness - which will become increasingly relevant in adapting to the impacts of climate change [1].

Information newly released comprises:

   *   the Heatwave Plan for England 2014;

   *   Making the Case, a companion document giving further information on a range of topics

        related to the Heatwave Plan; and

   *   three information pamphlets containing action cards based on the plan for easy use by

        organisations, staff and the public.

The plan sets out a series of clear actions to being prepared minimise the effects of severe heat on health, to be taken by the NHS, social care and other public agencies; professionals working with vulnerable people; and individuals and local communities.

The Plan continues to be underpinned by the Heat-Health Watch service. The UK Met Office will issue Heatwave Alerts from 1 June 2014 to 15 September 2014.

Following consultation with stakeholders, no significant or immediate changes were considered essential this year. Therefore, the only changes to content have been the removal of specific dates relevant only to 2013.

The plan has been jointly agreed between Public Health England, the Department of Health, NHS England, the Local Government Association and other stakeholders. It continues to be underpinned by the Heat-Health Watch service, developed with the Met Office to alert key stakeholders to the likelihood of severe hot weather in different parts of the country, so they can take appropriate action.

Reference

1.      Public Health England (2014) "Heatwave plan for England - protecting health and reducing harm from severe heat and heatwaves" 13 May.

 

Follow John on Twitter at @preppingUK - and listen out for Tom Linden's UK Prepper Show on UK Health Radio at the weekend! John’s health and wellness blog can be found at www.health-kicks.co.uk

 

PreppingUK is kindly sponsored by Hampshire Snow Clearance (www.hampshiresnowclearance) – helping businesses in the Basingstoke, Fleet and Hook areas of Hampshire, UK maintain safety and business continuity during adverse weather conditions. Services include preventative gritting of car parks and footpaths in icy conditions and heavy duty snow clearance of commercial premises.

  

Stark reminder for UK preppers from government research!

Government research identifies Supervolcanoes Spewing Deadly Gases as the Greatest Hazard to UK, writes John Hicks of PreppingUK.co.uk and the internationally-syndicated 'Health Kicks Show'.

 

Not just preppers but everyone in Britain should take notice that a high-level UK Government report has issued a stark warning of dangers posed to the United Kingdom.

Though not by terrorism, economic collapse or global warming, but the eruption of so-called 'supervolcanoes' in nearby Iceland threaten the UK. These hazards include extremes of cold in winter and heat in summer, catastrophic crop failure and deadly clouds of sulphur dioxide.

The Government commissioned the study by scientists from the UK Meteorological Office, universities and the British Geological Survey (BGS), following the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010 which caused months of disruption for airlines because volcanic ash posed a threat to plane engines.

The report will be presented at the European Geosciences Union meeting in Vienna.

Head of volcanology at the BGS Sue Loughlin will present the paper, and warns that Eyjafjallajokull was a relatively small eruption and would be dwarfed by eruptions at other volcanic systems, which have erupted in the relatively recent past.

Ms Loughlin's report warns that such eruptions, "typified by the Laki eruption in Iceland in 1783-84, have been identified as one of the three highest priority natural hazards faced by the UK."

Unlike with a traditional funnel-shaped volcano, the 1783 Laki event happened when a 17-mile fissure opened up in the Grimsvotn complex in the east of the island. This caused 130 craters along the crack to pump out 3.6 cubic miles of lava, sending lava fountains a mile into the sky.

The Laki event caused 120m tons of sulphur dioxide cloud to drift across the UK. Once inhaled it turns to sulphuric acid, which can cause fatal inflammation. Around 23,000 died in Britain – in an age when the population was far lower and there were far fewer older people. The consequences of "effusive gas-rich eruption" in a country of 63 million people could be truly disastrous.

In Iceland during 1783 the effects were even more devastating, with 80% of livestock being wiped out and crop failure causing 20% of the population to starve the death. Over the following years winters across Europe were exceptionally cold and summers blisteringly hot, and it has been suggested that the knock-on effects may have helped usher in the French Revolution of 1789.

The report found that major events at Grimsvotn and at Katla, a similar volcanic system, have occurred at least 40 times over the last 1,130 years. The government has now ordered the Met Office to monitor Iceland's active volcano systems.

John says: "So, in my view, it is a stark reminder to UK preppers, that we should continue our efforts to be able to look after ourselves and our families - even if just for a matter of weeks - in the event of a disaster affecting our region of the country."

Supervolcanoes aren't just found in Iceland, but around the world. Earlier this year there were fears of an eruption at the Yellowstone National Park, which includes a 55-mile-wide underground cavern holding vast quantities of molten rock. Scientists fear if it erupts the impact on climate could potentially threaten the existence of all human life on earth.



Follow John on Twitter at @preppingUK - and listen out for Tom Linden's UK Prepper Show on UK Health Radio at the weekend!

What is a Tsunami and Can You Prepare for One?

By John Hicks, a UK prepper and radio presenter of The Health Kicks Show which is aired on UK Health Radio and local radio stations worldwide

 

For those living in coastal areas; on the shores of an ocean or a large lake, the threat of a tsunami is all too prevalent. Tsunami is Japanese for “harbour wave” and is actually a series of waves instead of a single large wave.

What Causes a tsunami to form?

A tsunami is formed by a displacement of a large body of water, typically an ocean or a very large lake. Usually when an underwater earthquake – generally what is known as a mega-thrust earthquake or simply an upward thrusting earthquake occurs, a volcanic eruption, usually underwater or any form of underwater detonation such as a nuclear explosion, a tsunami can potentially form.

Other causes may be landslides, glacier calvings or meteorite impacts may all spawn a potential tsunami. Tsunami waves do not have the same appearance as traditional ocean or sea waves; they don’t present as breaking waves, but more like a rising tide. This is due to the fact that their wavelength is longer than average waves. This is the main reason that they have become known as tidal waves.

Tsunamis tend to come in a series of waves that can range from minutes apart to several hours. Waves can reach tens of metres in height and cause widespread destruction, even though this tends to be localised to coastal areas. These waves can affect a large portion of any given ocean; for example, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami affected 14 countries and left over 230,000 people dead.

Disaster Preparedness: Can You Prepare for a Tsunami?

The best possible way to prepare for a potential tsunami is to have your home inland from the coastline. Stronger tsunamis have been known to travel inland for several miles, especially if the land is flat, so it’s better if your home rests on a hill or at least higher ground. If your home is below sea level or at sea level, there is very little you can do to prepare your home in the event of a large tsunami wave.

Emergency planning: You should stock emergency medical supplies, food, clothing, batteries and money in a bag you can easily take with you by the front door in the event a tsunami wave strikes. There are many areas that have a tsunami warning centre and they will sound the alarm if a large enough earthquake has been detected. This does not mean a tsunami is imminent until ocean buoys detect a surge in the water itself.

These warnings should be heeded without delay and you should follow your regions tsunami evacuation route.

 

 

Follow John on Twitter at @preppingUK - and listen out for Tom Linden's UK Prepper Show on UK Health Radio at the weekend!

Are There Differences Between a Winter Storm and a Blizzard?

 

I was watching a television documentary about the terrific loss of life in a storm in Asia. The conclusion was that many lives would have been saved if the weather experts had used the word “Tsunami”, which ordinary people understood. Instead they talked about “Severe Storm” which, to the villagers without television and relying on word of mouth or the radio, did not.

So, what about other terms weather experts might use - and which might help us in understanding emergency planning in our local area?

For example, the terms “winter storm” and “blizzard” seem interchangeable and often thought to be the same thing. In actuality, there are only a few differences between them that classify them as a different type of storm from the other. So what are these differences between a winter storm and a blizzard?

Winter Storm

A winter storm can drop a significant amount of snow on a region, in some cases up to 50cm or more over a period of time. Winter storms also can produce a variety of other precipitation such as freezing rain, ice pellets or even rain, depending on the temperature. Ice storms might form during a winter storm if there is a sudden drop in temperature, enough so that the rain freezes and accumulates rapidly.

Blizzard

A blizzard differs from a winter storm by the length of time it lasts, usually several hours to several days duration. Blizzards always have a heavy snowfall amount, high winds, generally in excess of 56 km an hour, with visibility at less than half a kilometer. A blizzard’s winds can pick up snow that is already on the ground and blow it around causing whiteout conditions, making it impossible to drive.

The wind is the greatest factor in determining a blizzard over a winter storm, but temperature can play a factor as well. The colder temperatures can freeze exposed skin for those trapped outside in vehicles or walking. However, it is the prolonged exposure to the elements that can cause the damage, as snow does not fall in extremely cold temperatures.

Dangers of Winter Storms or Blizzards

The primary dangers associated with winter storms or blizzards are the heavy snowfall amounts, the cold temperatures (especially if your vehicle is stuck on the road) and the high winds in a blizzard. High winds and heavy snow can cause power outages for days, frostbite can occur on exposed skin and even roof collapses due to the weight of heavy snow are possible.

It is important to monitor news and radio reports of approaching winter storms or the potential for blizzards and be prepared for them when they occur. If possible, stay at home and don’t drive or walk during a storm and have enough food, medical supplies and batteries to last the duration of the storm and for at least 5 days after it has passed.

 

 

 

Join John Hicks every week on UK Health Radio, your local radio station, iTunes or Podbean for The Health Kicks Show www.health-kicks.co.uk

Interested in prepping in the UK? Follow Prepping UK on Twitter: @preppingUK

 

Photo courtesy of: Hampshire Snow Clearance www.HampshireSnowClearance.co.uk

Tom Linden's Show: 26th January 2014

In this week's UK Prepper Radio Show (aired on Sunday on UK Health Radio), Tom discusses:

Blizzard Survival Discount Offer, Ribz Discount Offer and the Wilderness121 Discount Offer, So can We Catch Parasites from Foraged Foods? 5 More Survival Uses of Pine Resin, How to Make Hardtack, Pine Pitch for Fire Lighting, Britons Must Dig for Survival, support these companies, Pine Needle Tea, How to make hardtack, Survival Fishing Kit, Survival Gadgets, Survival and Stress, Surviving SHTF, some more companies to support, How to Stop Bleeding With Black Pepper, Knowledge and Training, Survival Trapping, Surviving in the Wood, further companies to support, Tips for Over Night Survival, Survival Napping, Survival Preparedness, A Rough Guide to Radioactivity, How to Use the Internet When the Internet Is Gone.




Join John Hicks every week on UK Health Radio, your local radio station, iTunes or Podbean for The Health Kicks Show www.health-kicks.co.uk

 

Interested in prepping in the UK? Follow Prepping UK on Twitter: @preppingUK

Top Ten Items to Stockpile for Natural or Political Disasters

Top Ten Items to Stockpile for Emergencies

By John Hicks of The Health Kicks Show on UK Health Radio

Even if you are not a UK prepper, common sense dictates that every one of us should have basic essentials in reserve for local or national emergencies. Anything from a deluge of snow through to flooding - maybe even a disaster or strike at a local power station, oil refinery or chemical factory in your area - which might disrupt supplies to your local shops or limit fuel supplies which then restrict your ability to get out and about.

 

Here are my top ten sets of items that I recommend you stockpile:

1. Water and Non-Perishable Food. I recommend at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for a minimum period of two weeks. In addition, you should have one of the charcoal water filter flasks. This way you can filter drinking water every day, in case the public water supply is contaminated or fails. Canned goods can be eaten without cooking. Also have dry goods in case cooking is not a problem — consume these first, and save the canned goods. I check my product expiry dates regularly and use up (and replace) canned goods which are starting to run out of date – I still keep water which has run out of date as that will be okay for personal hygiene use.

2. Flashlights and Batteries. Give priority to flashlights that use common batteries, like AA, instead of the exotic batteries that may be hard to find. Batteries have a long shelf life, so stock up plenty of them. Keep a torch by your bed anyway in case power fails in the night.

3. Candles, Matches, and Lighters. A single flame will light up an entire room enough to keep you out of the dark, and large ones will provide a couple of hours of light for weeks. Keep your matches in a waterproof container. Use lighters as a backup.

4. Clothes and Blankets. Keep a complete set of clothes stored in a case or one of the compressible plastic cases where you suck out the air to reduce space and keep the clothes dust and damp free. Give priority to wool — it will keep you warm even in damp conditions. I have a wool hat, woollen thermal socks, wool sweater, a pair of trousers, a scarf, a set of thermal underwear, gloves, and a waterproof, breathable nylon jacket with a hood.

5. Portable Stove or Camp Stove. Propane stoves or liquid-fuel stoves can be used indoors if the room is properly ventilated. Kelly Kettles will burn any available wood or charcoal, and are good if you can cook on a patio or balcony. Give yourself options. I have a set of camping Gaz burners and bottles stored in a box in an outside store.

6. Alternate Heat. You need a backup in case your primary heat source goes out. A fireplace, wood stove, SuperSer or propane space heater will knock the chill out of at least one room. I bought some secondhand gas bottles from e-Bay very cheaply.

7. Alcohol, Coffee, and Cigarettes. Even if you don’t drink or smoke, these make excellent barter items. Also, alcohol can be used as a disinfectant. Buy the cheapest stuff you can find, and give priority to plastic bottles, which are resistant to breaking. Vodka and brandy are good choices. Keep coffee and cigarettes in waterproof containers.

8. Weapons for capturing small animals and as a deterrent for intruders. A crossbow, a powerful air rifle or maybe even a shotgun are good choices. Be sure you have plenty of ammo. Ensure they are all securely stored, away from children’s’ reach.

9. Medical Kit. Your medical kit should include first aid basics, plus an additional supply of whatever regular medications you and your family members take. I have, over a period time by ordering my repeat prescriptions a week early every two months, have now built up two months’ reserves of my medication.

10. Tools. Just the basics here: hammer, screwdrivers, a knife, multitool, tape and glue, rope and twine, and a crowbar. Be sure you keep this kit untouched until the emergency. That way you know it will always be there.

 

 

Join John Hicks every week on UK Health Radio, your local radio station, iTunes or Podbean for The Health Kicks Show www.health-kicks.co.uk

 

Interested in prepping in the UK? Follow Prepping UK on Twitter: @preppingUK

 

A simple definition of prepping in the UK

By John Hicks of the UK Health Radio's weekly talk radio health and wellness 'Health Kicks Show'

So what is 'prepping' and who are 'preppers'.

Here in the UK, there are a growing number of people to devote some of their time and resources to learning about and preparing for  a major disaster in their locality which restricts the about of government resources to be able to support them in the immediate future.

Our newspapers, radio news and television news broadcasts are increasingly bringing us information about catastrophic events such as violent tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters which are are on the increase.

The world economy is still faltering and many are facing an uncertain financial future. Some people believe that the world will end because of an economic disaster; while others believe that there may be an EMP from a solar eclipse or the polar shift scientists have discovered will devastate the world we live in. All believe that in their lifetime that there will be a tipping point that will create social unrest and chaos.

In times of instability more people are looking for ways to not only provide for their families but to protect them. They want to make sure that in the event of a financial meltdown, catastrophic weather event, EMP, social unrest, or terrorist activity such as an attack on a nuclear power station, that they can provide their loved ones with the basic necessities required to survive.

We all watched in horror at the TV images of looting in riots here in the UK. And we stand by helpless when striking lorry drivers at petrol refineries threatened to starve fuel stations of the petrol and diesel supermarket delivery drivers needed to re-stock the shop shelves.

Those people who have decided to rely on themselves rather than waiting for the government to come in and rescue them from a crisis are called Preppers.

I am not an extreme prepper. I am ensuring that I have enough food, water, medicines and basic essentials for at least four weeks. But I am also looking at how I could take care of, and protect, my family over an extended period.

My first prepping handbook

By John Hicks of The Health Kicks Show on UK Health Radio

My daughter Chelsea-Anne thoughtfully gave me my first handbook on prepping - and I welcome this opportunity to share details with you as it is a very good starting point.

The book is called "The Doomsday Prepping Crash Course" by Patty Hahne and published by Skyhorse Publishing Inc.

I found it an easy read and a useful beginner's guide to being prepared for any event so I often return to it for tips and ideas as I develop my own personal emergency survival plan.

I was surprised that Chelsea bought me this book as, being a teenager, she finds my passion for such things as stocking-up on tins of foods and buying a generator slightly amusing. But she knew that it was something of great interest to me and I am hopeful that there is a begrudging acceptance in her mind that disaster can strike any of us, anywhere in the world, at any time. I certainly do not want her to be worried but I would like to think that she too will go on to have a plan in place when she comes to have a family of her own.

I explain to her that it is like having a car breakdown insurance policy or a life insurance policy. We all try and afford one, even if just a basic plan, but hope we never have to use it.

Patty Hahne's book is a good first step in being prepared.





Join John Hicks every week on UK Health Radio, your local radio station, iTunes or Podbean for The Health Kicks Show - follow the links on www.health-kicks.co.uk